Return playing-surface game apparatus



Sept. 20, 1949. D. M. GILL 2,482,336

RETURN PLAYING-SURFACE GAME APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I,

/////////l /W7 l l l l v I3 22 24 25 28 2| INVENTOR DEAN M. GILL ATTORNEY Sept, 20, 1949. D. M. GlLL 2,482,336

RETURN PLAYINGSURFACE GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

Filed April 2, 1947 FIG. 4.

A INVENTOR DEAN M. GILL ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETURN PLAYING SURFAGE GAME APPARATUS- 3 Claims;

This: invention relates to apparatus for amusement games. and in particular to games involving the hand rolling of playing balls over a surface to a target area.-

Qne object of the invention is to provide a return playing-surface for a rolling ball game apparatus in which the'target area is disposed below the initial. playing surface. Another object of the: invention is to provide apparatus for a rolling ball game in which it is impossible to divert a played ball into; a selected: target area. Another object is to provide a rolling ball game in which the target; area isdisposed below the area of initiating the; ball play and visible to the player. A further object is to;- provide a rolling ball game apparatus in which. the balls, failing to lodge in the target area, are returned to the player for subsequent playing. A further object is to pro vide a return playing-surface game apparatus in which the momentum of the played ball is at least partly dissipated so that all played balls roll onto the target area under substantially the: momentum acquired solely by freely rolling down an inclined surface under the force of gravity. These and other objects are attained by my inventionwhichwill be understood from the following description, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig- 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of my invention, parts being brokenaway. and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same with partsbroken away to show the interior arrangement;

Fig. 3' is an end elevational view with parts broken away to show the internal arrangement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the target area openings and the ball releasing plate including an electric contact switch;

Fig. 5isa diagrammatic view of a modification of my invention; and" Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of another'modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the game apparatus is conveniently housed in a cabinet I-'| having side panels [2 and I3, a front panel l4, and a rear panel l5. In the preferred formshown particularly in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; the top surface is covered by a plate [6- preferably transparent, extending from the rear toward the front and disposed above'the playingsurface and covering the playing surface except an open portion near the front'wh'ere theball is initially hand rolled; The

playing surface- I-1 ispreferably made with a-w-i'ndew of transparent material i8; especiallyin that portion of the playing surface which is dire'ctl-y so (Cl. W -@124 2. above the target area so that this is plainly visible to the player. The playing surface I1 extends rearwardly from the front beneath the cover plate Hi to: form av constricted throat l9 between the rear edge: thereof and a curved inside surfaceof a connecting member 29- between the rear endof the cover plate It and a downwardly sloping free-rolling surface 21. The curvature of the i n side surface, as shown, is a cylindrical segment, although this curvature may be distorted from a true cylindrical surface. The threat l9 between the rear edge of the" playing surface [-1- and the inside surface of the connecting member is constricted to substantially the diameter of the playing balls which are adapted to pass through the throat, and then freely roll dowrr the rolling surface 2 I under the force of" gravity. The: freerolling' surface Z t extendsforwardly and down-- wardly to about the middle of the cabinet where the playing balls may roll onto a target area 22 which is in general a plain surface sloping u ward ly' from the intersection with the said freerolli'n'g surface, at aslightly smaller angle from the horizontal than the slope of said free-rolling surface, sothatthe momentum ofthe playing ball after rolling down the free-rollingsurface may", unless} pocketed; carry the ball to the ex tremeend of the target area and against the guard rim 232 The target areais provided with spacedopenings or pockets slightly larger than the playing ball. These openings 24' may bearranged in any desired pattern" over the target area. The playing balls which drop into the: holes 21 are prevented from falling through by the contact member- 2-15 of individual electrical contact switches 26 which are mounted uporr a: ball discharge plate 21, the said. plate being? adaptedto slidelongitudinally in: the grooved members 28 attached tothe-side panels l2 and I3, the sliding movement being controlled by means of the arm 29 actuated by the coin chute bar 3B",- the coin chute 31- bein mounted on the front panel [4 and thebar extending through the panel M. The ball discharge plate 21 is also provide'd with openings 32 alignable with the pockets 24'- in the target area 22, the pockets and holes being aligned when the plate 21 is moved rearwardly by the actuation of the coin chute bar 30;- Whenthe ball discharge plate 2'!" is thus moved rearwardly by the coin chute bar 35, the balls which are pocketed and resting upon the contact members 25 or the Contact switches 26 drop through the-openings- 32- onto thereturn floor 3-3 The' return floor 33 isasl ightl y tilted so that the balls will roll toward the front o'fi'the: cabinet tor the opening 34 where they may be picked up by the player. A guard partition 35 is provided at the top of this opening and extending inwardly so that the switches 26 and the discharge plate 21 may not be reached and tampered with by a player. The terminals 36 of the switches 26 are electrically connected to the annunciator 38 which is conveniently placed at the rear of the cabinet on the cover plate l6 so that its front face 39 may be readily viewed by the player. Signal lights or other annunciating means may be arranged on the face 39 and suitable counting means for summation of'the scoring (not shown) may be included in the annunciator device. Terminals 40 are indicated for suitable electrical connection (not shown) with the terminals 36 of the contact switches, and an electric lighting circuit terminal 4| is also provided for the annunciator.

The lower end of the rolling surface 2| is preferably raised slightly above the surface of the target area so that the balls make a small verti-,

cal drop when they roll off of the surface 2| onto 7 the target area 22; The forward edge of this rolling surface 2| is cut back diagonally along the forward edge 42, and inclined slightly, so that any ball which is rolled up the target area 22 and down again without dropping into one of the pockets 24 strikes this forward edge 42 and is diverted laterally to the opening 43 at the margin of the target area surface, this hole allowing the dead balls'to roll off of the target area, drop down to the return floor 33 and eventually roll to the opening 34, where they may be removed and replayed. A diverting partition 44 is provided on the free rolling surface 2| around the hole 43 to divert any ball which may be rolling down the rolling surface at the extreme side position and prevent said ball from dropping into the dead ball hole 43.

While I prefer to use a smooth curved surface e connecting member between the playing surface and the level of the target area, the transfer of the playing balls may be effected by non-curved surfaces. For example, in the form shown in Fig. 5, the connecting member 20B consists of a substantially vertical plane wall. If a rolled ball on the playing surface ll is rolling gently at the rear end, it may simply drop over the end edge of the playing surface IT and continue its roll down the free rolling surface 2|. If the ball is strongly rolled, it may bump against the vertical end wall 293 and then drop down onto the surface 2|, and roll down, under gravity plus some initial momentum, to the target area 22A. As shown in this case, for example, the target consists of openings in a vertical wall constituting pockets for the playing balls.

Similarly, in the form shown in Fig. 6; the rolled ball may be transferred from the playing surface W, to the somewhat short and steep, freerolling surface 2| after bumping against an angularly placed end wall 200 which may be provided with an energy absorbing cushioning surface, the end wall deflecting the ball over the free-rolling surface to the target area 22. Contact switches 26A are shown, for example, on the target area, arranged in a suitable pattern and adapted to be actuated by contact witth the ball. The target area may be level instead of inclined upwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

As indicated above, the target area may be any combination or arrangement of pockets, contact switches, doors, labyrinths, hazards, grooves,

games of this type. V V

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. The return of the playing balls to the target area in direct view of the player permits him to see directly the results of a play. The reduction of the momentum of the balls at the start of the free rolling surface to a somewhat constant value, no matter how much energy may have been put into the ball initially, makes the game much more interesting, and increases the life of the apparatus. The inaccessibility of the target area, and the consequent inability to cheat the game by guiding the balls to advantageous pockets or otherwise, eliminates the principal objections to, the use of hand rolled games,

IcIaim:

1. A game apparatus comprising an enclosing cabinet; a relatively flat wide playing surface arranged substantially horizontally near the top of said cabinet upon which surface a playing ball may be rolled, a curved surface connecting member, said playing surface having a forefield portion which is uncovered to permit initiating motion of a playing ball, and a rear field portion having its rear edge ending adjacent said curved surface connecting member, said rear edge forming with said curved surface a constricted throat of slightly greater width than the diameter of the ball through which the played ball must roll; a

cover over said rear field arranged to allow the 7 face of the upper end of said connecting member being substantially continuous with the under surface of said cover; a target area extending forwardly from the forward and lowerend of said free rolling surface, said target area having: ball receiving pockets and being slopedupwardly from the lower edge of said free rolling surface;

and means to discharge the balls in the pockets and deliver them to a position accessible to a player.

2. A game apparatus comprisingan enclosing cabinet; a relativelyfiat wide playing surface arranged substantially horizontally near the top of said cabinet upon which surface a playing ball.- may be rolled, a curved surface connecting member, said playing surface having a forefield portion which is uncovered to permit initiating motion of a playing ball, and a rear field portion having its rear edge ending adjacent said curved surface connecting member, said rear edge forming with .field tothe upper'rear endof said free rolling surface, the inner face of the upper end of, said connecting member being substantially continuous with the under surface of said coverratargct area extending forwardly from the forward and lower end of said free rolling surface, said target area having ball receiving pockets, and being sloped upwardly from the lower edge of said free rolling surface; a movable discharge plate disposed beneath said target area, said plate being provided with drop-out holes arranged to correspond to the pockets in said target area and being also provided with contact switches arranged between said drop-out holes in a pattern corresponding to said pockets, said plate being movable to alternately position said drop-out holes or said contact switches in alignment with said pockets; coin-released means to move said plate to discharge the balls in the pockets; a ball return floor beneath said discharge plate arranged to collect the discharged playing balls and the unpocketed balls to return them to an opening in said cabinet for delivery to a player; and annunciator scoring means electrically associated I with said contact switches and including means adapted to visibly indicate the position and score for each ball in a pocket in contact with one of said contact switches.

3. A game apparatus comprising an enclosing cabinet having front, back, and side panels; a relatively flat wide playing surface arranged substantially horizontally near the top edges of the side panels of said cabinet upon which surface a playing ball may be hand rolled, a curved surface connecting member, said playing surface having a transparent forefield portion which is uncovered to permit hand swinging to initiate a rolling motion of the playing ball, and said playing surface having a rear field portion having its rear edge ending adjacent said curved surface connecting member, said rear edge forming with said curved surface a constricted throat of slightly greater width than the diameter of the ball through which the played ball must roll; a transparent cover over said rear field arranged to allow the playing ball to roll thereunder; a free rolling surface disposed beneath said rear field and sloping downwardly from the back of said cabinet toward the front over which the playing ball may roll freely under gravitational force, a target area, the lower edge of said free rolling surface being raised above the adjoining surface of said target area and being terminated in a diagonal margin across the free rolling surface to form with the margin of said target area a lateral downwardly sloping trough to guide unpocketed balls off the said target area; said connecting memhaving a curved inner surface upon which the playing ball may be transferred by rolling around the rear end edge of said rear field to the rear upper end of said free rolling surface, the inner face of the upper end of said connecting member being substantially continuous with the under surface of said transparent cover; said target area extending forwardly from the forward and lower end of said free rolling surface, said target area having ball receiving pockets distributed thereover, and being sloped upwardly from the lower edge of said free rolling surface, said target area being provided adjacent its lower edge and at a margin of the playing surface with an opening for balls leading to a return ball floor; a movable discharge plate disposed beneath said target area, said plate being provided with drop-out holes arranged to correspond to the pockets in said target area and being also provided with countact switches arranged between said drop out holes in a pattern corresponding to said pockets, said plate being movable to alternatively position said drop-out holes or said contact switches in alignment with said pockets; coinreleased means to move said Plate to discharge the balls in the pockets; a ball return floor beneath said discharge plate arranged to collect the discharged playing balls and the unpocketed balls to return them to an opening in said cabinet for delivery to a player; and annunciator scoring means electrically associated with contact switches and including means adapted to visibly indicate the position and score for each ball in a pocket in contact with one of said contact switches.

DEAN M. GILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 260,815 Wilcox July 11, 1882 769,286 Zeip Sept. 6, 1904 1,612,912 Esmarian Jan. 4, 1927 2,130,123 Ebert Sept. 13, 1938 2,138,859 Hubbard et a1 Dec. 6, 1938 2,278,024 Rosenzweig Mar. 31, 1942 

